Craft-propulsion mechanism



F. F. SIMONS. CRAFT PROPULSION MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5, I918.

Patented Oct. 5, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

M W Q41 F. F. SIMONS. CRAFT PROPULSION MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5. 191B.

Patented Oct. 5, 1920.

5 SHEETfi-SHEET 2.

F. F. SIMONS. CRAFT PROPULSION MECHANISM. APPLICATION men NOV. 5. 191B.

Patented 0% 5,1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4 F. F. SIMONS. CRAFT PROPULSION MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 5. 1918- Patented Oct. 5, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5- UNITED STATES FRANK FREDERICK S-IMONS, OF HARMONY, PENNSYLVANIA.

CRAFT-PROPULSION MECHANISM.

Application filed November 5, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known t at I, FRANK FREDERICK Simone, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Harmony, in the county of Butler and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Craft-Propulsion Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

' The primary object of the invention is the provision of means of locomotion especially adaptable for aircraft of different forms as well as being serviceable upon vehicles and boats, includi g submarines, an even traveling movemen being obtained without the employment of rotary propellers.

A further object of the invention is to provide motor driven operating planes positioned laterally of an aircraft for moving the craft at desirable speeds through the air and eliminating all forward and rear propellers, the, craft being easily steered and manipulated by reason of the compact arrangement of the mechanism as well as providing more room for the occupants of the craft and with unobstructed space at the rear end portions thereof for taking observations as well as firing upon the enemy.

A still further object of the invention is to provide propulsion means for aero planes that is positive in its operation, simple in construction and not liable to get out of working order or require repairs while the same is capable of overcoming great resistance in theline of flight when in use and is especially serviceable upon War crafts such as bombing planes.

With these general objects in View and others that will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood the same consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views. l 1

In the drawings, p Figure l isan elevational view of a biplane provided with my invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken through the mounting frame of the propulsion mechanism between the planes or main aerofoil of the aircraft, parts being illustrated by dotted lines,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 5, 192,0.

Serial No. 261,222.

3 is a side elevation thereof,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the operating connections of the propulsion mechanism,

5 is a top plan view of the same,

Flg. 6 is a perspective view of portions of the propulsion mechanism,

Fig. 7 is a central longitudinal sectional view through one of the propellers or ailerons,

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view through one of the blades in its horizontal inoperative position, illustrating by dotted lines the vertical operative position thereof,

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an auto matic locking means for the blade, a slightly different form of blade being illustrated,

F 1g. 9 is a top plan view thereof,

Fig. 10 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the same.

Figs. 11, 12 and 13 are transverse sectional views thereof.

Fig. 14 is a top plan view of a combined guide and locking means for the blades illustrating by full and broken lines one of the blades at its opposite extremities of travel.

Fig- 15 is a sectional View thereof with the blade illustrated in its intermediate position, and

Fig. 16 is a detail view of a ortion of the blade with the guide shown 1n section.

My inventionbeing designed for the propul'sion of different forms of craft traveling either upon or beneath the surface of the Water or through the air or upon the ground, is herein illustrated installed upon an aircraft, it being understood that substantially the same structural embodiment of the invention are adaptable for the other forms of craft.

Such aircraft, above noted, is of the biplane form having a fuselage 10 with a transverse upper plane or main aerofoil 11 and outwardly projecting lower planes or aerofoils 12 connected to the upper plane by posts 13. A wheeled chassis it is provided beneath the fuselage as well as a strut 15 while a vertical rudder 16 forms a portion of the empennage in connection with opposite horizontal rudders 17. .The craft propulsion mechanism hereinafter specifically described is positioned substantially centrally beneath the main upper aer'ofoil 11 leaving the fore and aft per ofreeiend of; theicran'k 31 with the head 40,

tions of the fuselage 10 for the manipulator of rapid fire guns 18 from the adjacent wells 19 provided inthe fuselage 10.

A frame is provided beneath the aerofoil ll including upright posts 20 connected between the aerofoil 11 and a deck portion 21 of the fusela e 10 while pairs of inwardly curved side pieces 22 are ronnreted between the corner posts 20.

A motor 23 of any form such as an explosive motor is positioned within the fuselage 10. at any desirable point operatively connected by means of a sprocket chain 24 with a gear 25 mounted upon an axle 26 journaled by means of a bracket 27 adjacent the forward end of said frame. A pinion 28 upon the rear end of the axle 26 is in constant mesh with a bevel gear 29 having a shaft 30 provided with oppositely projecting cranks 31 and 32 above and beneath the pinion 29.

The active propulsion of the craft is accomplished by means of blades or ailerons 33 provided in one or more pairs and adapted for operation by the said cranks for forward and rearward movement after the manner of the oars of a boat in the rowing operation. l

The installation of the invention herein illustrated includes two pairs of blades the forward pair being designated 33 and a rearward pair 33 operative] connected to the cranks 31 and 32 respectively. The formation and operation of each pair of blades is substantially identical but so timed as to be opposite in movement during operation.

A swinging arm 34 is provided for each blade 33 pivoted upon opposite upright rods 35 secured between the side pieces 22 while braces 36 connect the rods 35 together above and beneath the point of attachment of said arms 34. y

The blades 33 and 33 are longitudinally journaled upon rods 37 axially secured through the arm 34 so that said blades may assume either a horizontal inoperative or a vertical operative position under the control of the automatic tripping means hereinafter Set forth.

Inward extensions 38 are: provided for the arms 34 pivotally connected by means of links 39 with a head 40 slidable upon a guide wire atmounted longitudinally of the frame and supported by any convenient portion thereof.

A connecting 'rod 42 pivotally connects the whereby during[the revolving of the gear 29,

mounted upon the arms. videdparallel pins 73 havi flattened ends the rod 42 andhead 40 are reciprocated for ,iswindging thearms 34 forwardly and rearwai yatogether with the blades pivotally The head 40 pro- 74 slidablymounted upon t e wire 41 and connected by a spring 75' between theends .74 The links 39 are pivoted upongoneof said pins 73 while the connector 42 is ,pivoted to the other pin 73. In this manner, the links and connectors are connected for operation in either direction by the head 4t). The forward blades 33 are shown in their horizontal inoperative positions in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 0 of the drawings with the head 40 and connecting rod 42 at substantially the forwardmost limit of their strokes. lt will be seen that when the blades 33 are so positioned, terminal extensions 43 of the rods 37 will engage brackets 44 upon upright side posts 45 outwardly of the side pieces 22, and acting as stops for any further movement of the blades 33 in an inwardly rearwardly direction. Upon turning the gear 29, the rod 42 and head 40 are moved rearwardly thereby swinging the arms 34 by means of the links 39 and extensions 38, swinging the horizontal blades 33 forwardly through the air.

Angular trips to are carried at the outer free ends of the blades 33 adapted for en gaging rearwardl I projecting lugs 47 upon the forward pos 20, which autmnatically swing the blade 33 to their upright vertical operative positions. At this forward positioning of the blades 33, the terminal members 43 engage forward brackets 48 adjacent said forward post 20. The continued movement of the gear 29 forwardly moves the rod 42 and head 40 thereby drawing forwardly the links 39, rearwardly moving the arms 34 and the vertical blades 33. The said blades are provided with slightly concaved rear faces 19 which during this rear movement of the blades fill with air resulting in a forward impulse to the aircraft. When the vertical blades 33 are nearing the rearward limit of their movements, the trips 46 engage lugs 47 upon the post 45, automatically swinging the blades 33 to their horizontal positions for free return movement through the air.

In this manner, the blades accomplish a rowing action, feathering during the forward inoperative movement thereof and exerting great pressure againstthe air during the rearward movement of the blades" for forcing the craft forward upon its course of travel.

The rearward pair of blades herein desig: nated as 33 operate in precisely the same manner as the forward blades 33,.having their arms 34 provided with-extensions 38 pivotally connected by links 39' with a. head "connects the free end of the crank 32, {W11} theslidingvh ead 41' It will besee n that the opposlte positioning of the cranks 31 and 32 at all times operate the rods 42 and 42 oppositely so that while the forward complishes the continuous rowing movements of the blades 33and 33' it being understood that the blades-133" are rovided :with suitable tri s 46' fer automatically revolving the Isle es 33' upon engaging lugs 47" extending rearwardly from the post 45 and similar lugs 47' forwardly projecting from the rear posts '20 of the frame; Any form of reciprocating power means may be provided for the connecting rods 42 and 42 while it will be also understood that only one set of blades such as 33 may be provided if desired, while a greater number than two sets of blades may be provided if the oceasion requires and in the event the same will be coupled up with the source of power supply in any convenient manner. The arm 34 of each blade 33 is provided with opposite stops 50 for limiting the swinging of the blades to their horizontal positions, preventing any further rotation of the blades while a similar projecting stop 51 upon the outer end of each arm 34; is engaged by the adjacent blade when the same assumes its operative vertical position. For

purposes of smooth operation, one of the links 39 is preferably of single form while the other is double as best illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

A locking means is preferably provided for the blades 33 for insuring their horizontal position upon their return forward movement and their operative vertical position during the rearward. movement thereof and this mechanism will now be described.

A blade 52 having the same operation as the aforementioned blades 33 and 33' also slightly different in contour is journaled upon a longitudinal shaft 53 axially secured through a cylindrical handle or frame 54 provided for the blade while an extension 55 projects from the arm 54 to be operatively connected to a source of power supply in the manner heretofore set forth. A projection also adapted to limit the forward and rear swinging movements thereof while an angular trip 57 carried by the blade is. adapted to automatically shift the latter from its horizontal to its vertical position and vice versa. A guard 58 may be carried by the arm 54 surrounding and slightly spaced from the blade 52. A rectangular frame 59 is shiftably mounted transversely surrounding the arm 54 by means of projecting T- shaped brackets 130. A right angular lock-v ing plate 61 is pivoted as at 62 upon opposite sides of the arm 54 adjacent its outer end adapted for receiving a cross pin 63 56 at the free end of the blade is within the angular sides of said plates when the blade 52 is vertical.

Outwardiy projecting ribs 64 are provided upon the free end of the arm 54 for engagement by the pin 63 in limiting the rotation of the blade 52. A two-part link 65 is provided for each of the plates 62 having their outer ends attached to said plates and their inner ends pivotally connected as at 66 centrally of the upper and lower sides of the frame 59. Positioning springs 67 are mounted upon the sides of the frame 59 between the link 65 and the bracket 60. By these means, when the outer ends of the frame 59 are normally positioned, the plates 61 will engage and hold the pins 63 when the pins are vertical as well as the blades 52 while the plates 61 will also prevent a return movement of the pin 63 and blade 52 when said pin and blade are horizohtal. A guide 63 is mounted upon the arm 54 having slots 69 therethrough for the reception of the. link 65.

It will be seen that when the blade 52 approaches the rear limit of its movement, one end of the frame 59 will engage a stop 70 carried by the framework 71 of the air craft, which will shift the plates 61 to their released positions as shown in Fig 9 of the drawings, thereby permitting the trip 57 which engages the lug 71 of the frame member 72 to throw the blade 52 to its horizontal position. The blade will then move forwardly, releasing the frame 59 which will lock the blade 52 horizontally until in a similar manner. the blade 52 will be released at the forward limit of its travel. permitting the blade to swing to its operative vertical position by means of the forward engagement of the trip 57 and in which position the blade will be locked for its operative rearward movement.

A positive rowing action is attained in this manner without liability of the blades 52 revolving in an undesirable direction during the propelling actuation of the said blades.

The form of blade locking mechanism just described is equally serviceable for the blades 33by mounting the mechanism upon the arm 34. thereof and all of which will be readily apparent. An aircraft provided with this means of propulsion may swiftly travel under the guidance of the pilot in any desired direction with an even and uniform motion.

adapted for movement by a connecting rod 85.

An arcuate guide consisting of two parallel sides 86 is provided with the arm 81 slidable longitudinally thereof, a rectangular shoulder 87 being provided upon the arm 81 for sliding within the guide in substantial contact with the opposite sides of the guide so that the rotation of the blade 20 is prevented during the swinging movement thereof. lVhen the shoulder 87 passes within the enlarged ends 88 of the guide, the blade 80 is free to revolve a'quarter turn which revolution is effected by means of a trip 89 carried by the arm 81. A stub 90 carried by the top of one of the ends 89 is engaged by the trip 89 at the termination of the power stroke of the blade 80 thereby turning the blade to its horizontal position for the return stroke. A finger 91 projects from the side of the opposite end 88 of the guard adapted for engagement by the upwardly bent end 92 of the trip 89 at the completion of the recover stroke thereby shifting the blade 80 to its vertical position for the next power stroke. A slot 93 of substantially 90 is provided in the sleeve 83 within which a pin 94 carried by the arm 81 is adapted to move, thereby limiting the rotation of the said arm and its blade 80 to the vertical and horizontal positions. It will be understood that the sides 86 hold the blade either vertical or horizontal during the shifting thereof and in whichever position the blade has been placed by its quarter turn within the ends 88.

What I claim as new is 1. Craft propulsion means comprising members having shiftable blades, operating means for such members, and automatic means associated with the swinging ends of the blades for feathering the blades at points adjacent their limits of movement in opposite directions.

2. Craft propulsion means comprising laterally positioned blades, means for swinging said blades longitudinally of the craft and means associated with the swinging ends of the blades for feathering the blades at points adjacent the limits of move ments in opposite directions.

(raft propulsion means comprising a pair of opposite blades, means adapted for swinging said blades in arcuate paths and means associated with the swinging ends of the blades adapted for partially revolving the blades at points adjacent the limits of movement in opposite directions.

4. Propulsion means for an aircraft comprising laterally positioned blades adapted for simultaneous to-and-fro motion, power operating means operatively connected to the said blades and tripping means associated with the outer swinging ends of the blades for automatically shifting the blades from operative to inoperative positions and vice versa when the blades reach their limits of movement in opposite directions.

5. Propulsion means for aircraft comprising laterally projecting arms swingingly mounted thereon, operating means for said arms carried by the craft, air engaging blades journaled for partial rotation upon the said arms and means cooperating with the swinging ends of said blades at points adjacent their limits of movement in opposite directions for partially rotating the blades.

6. Propulsion means for aircraft comprising laterally projecting arms swingingly mounted thereon, operating means for said arms carried by the craft, air-engaging blades journaled at the free ends of said arms, movement-limiting means for the blades and automatic revolving means adapted to be engaged by the swinging ends of the blades whereby the latter are vertically positioned during the rearward stroke thereof.

7. Propulsion means for aircraft comprising laterally projecting arms swingingly mounted upon the craft, power means upon the craft adapted for moving said arms simultaneously forwardly and rearwardly, blades journaled at the free ends of said arms adapted for vertical positioning during the rearward swinging movement of the arms and for horizontal arrangement during the forward movement thereof, and means carried by the craft adapted to be engaged by the swinging ends of said arms for changing the positions of the blades.

8. Propulsion means for craft comprising laterally projecting arms swingingly mounted upon the craft, power means upon the craft adapted for moving said arms simultaneously forwardly and rearwardly, blades iournaled for partial rotation at the free ends of said arms, means adapted for limiting rotation of said blades to a hori zontal and vertical arrangement and automatic tripping means for the blades adapted to be engaged by the blades during the forward and rearward movement thereof whereby the latter are positioned in their operative vertical arrangement during their rearward movements and horizontally during the forward movements of the blades.

9. Propulsion means for craft comprising laterally projecting arms swingingly mounted upon the craft, power means upon the craft adapted for moving said arms simultaneously forwardly and rearwardly, blades journaled at the free ends of said arms adapted for vertical positioning during the rearward sn 'inging movement of the arms and for horizontal arrangement during the forward movement thereof, locking means upon said arms whereby said blades m stic:

are secured in their vertical and horizontal positions during the to-and-f'ro movements of the blades, and automatic controlling means for said locking means. v

10. Propulsion means for craft comprising laterally projecting arms swingingly mounted upon the craft, power means upon the craft adapted for moving said arms simultaneous-W forwardly and rearwardly, blades journa edfor partial rotationat the free ends of said arms, means adapted for limiting rotation of said blades to a horizontal and vertical arrangement, automatic tripping means for the blades whereby the latter are positioned in their operative vertical arrangement during their rearward movements and horizontally during the forward movements of the blades, locking means upon said arms whereby said blades are secured in their vertical and horizontal positions during the to-and-fro movements -of the blades, and automatic controlling means for said locking means.

11. Propulsion means for aircraft comprising a frame upon the craft, laterally projecting arms pivoted upon said frame, a longitudinal guide wire centrally of the frame, a head slidable upon said wire, operative connections between said head and arms, power-driven reciprocating means operatively connected to said head and blades operatively journaled upon the free ends of said arms.

12. Propulsion means for aircraft comprising a frame upon the craft, laterally projecting arms pivoted upon said frame, a longitudinal guide wire centrally of the frame, a head slidable upon said wire, 0perative connections between said head and arms, power-driven reciprocating means operatively connected to said head, blades journaled for partial rotation at the free outer ends of said arms adapted for vertical positioning during the rearward movement of the arms and horizontal positioning during the forward movement thereof and automatic means adapted for shifting said blades from their vertical to their horizontal positions substantially at the limit of the rearward travel of the blades.

13. Propulsion means for aircraft'comprising a frame upon the craft, laterally projecting arms pivoted upon said frame, a longitudinal guide wire centrally of the frame; a head slidable upon said wire, operative connections between said head and arms, power-driven reciprocating means.

zontal positions substantially at the limit of the rearward travel of the blades, means for locking said blades in their vertical and horizontal positions and automatic actuating means for the said locking means.

14. Propulsion means for aircraft comprising pzi-irs of laterallyprojecting arms horizontally swingingly mounted upon the craft," air-engaging blades horizontally journaled at the outer ends of said arms adapted for vertical and horizontal positioning during operation, reciprocating means operatively connected to said arms adapted for swinging the pairs of arms toand-fro in opposite directions when the blades are oppositely positioned and means associated with the swinging ends of the blades to cause a partial rotationthereof adjacent the limit of movement of the blades in opposite directions.

15. Propulsion means for aircraft comprising a forward and rear pair of arms pivoted for horizontally swinging laterally of the craft, power means operatively connected to said arms adapted for imparting to-and-fro movements thereto simultaneously in opposite directions, air-engaging blades horizontally journaled for partial rotation at the outer free ends of said arms and means associated with the swinging ends of the blades to cause a partial rotation thereof adjacent the limit of movement of the blades in opposite directions.

16. Propulsion means for aircraft comprising a forward and rear pair of arms pivoted for swinging laterally of the craft, power means operatively connected to Said arms adapted for imparting t'o-and-fro movements thereto simultaneously in opposite directions, air-engaging blades journaled for partial rotation at the outer free ends of said arms, means adapted to be engaged by said blades at their limits of movements in opposite directions automatically to shift said blades to their vertical positions prior to the rearward movements thereof and to their horizontal positions for traveling forwardly.

17. Propulsion means for aircraft comprising a forward and rear pair of arms pivoted for swinging laterally of the craft, power means operatively connected to said arms adapted for imparting to-and-fro movements thereto simultaneously in opposite directions, air-engaging blades journaled for partial rotation at the outer free ends of said arms, means adapted to automatically shift said blades to their vertical positions prior to the rearward movements thereof and to their horizontal positions for traveling forwardly, rotation limiting means for the blades and automatic locking means for said blades adapted for holding the latter in their vertical positions during rearward movement and in horizontal positions during the forward travel thereof.

18. Guide means for propelling blades comprising an arcuate rack having parallel sides and enlarged ends, a blade having its arm projecting through said rack, a rectangular shoulder upon said arm adapted for sliding between the sides of said rack and for turning a quarter revolution Within the opposite ends thereof and means adapted for turning the blade a quarter revolution in opposite directions when said shoulder is positioned in the end portions of the guide.

19. Guide means for propelling blades comprising an arcuate rack having parallel sides and enlarged ends, a blade having its arm projecting through said rack, a metangular shoulder upon said arm adapted for sliding between the sides of said rack and for turning a quarter revolution Within the opposite ends thereof, means adapted l'or swinging the blade to and fro with said shoulder in the guide, tripping connections between the arm of the blade and the end portions of the aide for automatically revolving the bla e from its vertical to its horizontal position and vice versa when said shoulder is positioned within said end portions and means adapted for limiting the rotation of the blade.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRANK FREDERICK SIMONS. 

